Game transporting device



United States Patent [72] Inventor Dawson N. Sapp Rte. 3, Box 5, Dover,Del. 19901 [211 App]. No. 791,949

[22] Filed Jan. 17, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 15, 1970 I 54] GAMETRANSPORTING DEVICE 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[51] Int. Cl B62b 11/00 [50] Field olSearch 280/ 19, 18, 12,11.37(A);150/52 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,091,4023/1914 Stout 280/19 2,667,353 l/1954 Lanice 150/52 $222,080 12/1965Kinraide 280/18 FOREIGN PATENTS 255,007 3/1926 Great Britain (280/1.5)

Primary Examiner-Banjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Robert R. SongAttarney Mason, F enwick & Lawrence ABSTRACT: A game-transporting deviceincluding a flexible enclosure adapted to hold an animal to betransported, the enclosure having a closable elongated opening forinserting the animal to be transported therein, the enclosure consistingof a durable material having a smooth outer surface and manual towingmeans secured to the enclosure means for dragging the enclosure meanscontaining the animal, along the ground.

PATENTEU DEC] 5 I976 "DAW N; 5 5

munwmg BY mam ATTORNEYS":

' 1 GAME TRANSPORTING DI Ilv'ICIEI This invention relates to atransporting device and more particularly to a device fortransporting=garne which has been slain.

In hunting wild game such as deer-and the like, the game,

normally is slain in remote areas of rugged terrainaUsually, the sitewhere the animal is slain is remote-from the hunters means oftransportationywhich necessitates transporting the slain animal aconsiderable distance through'rugged terrain to reachthe hunter's meansof transportation.

It has been found, that transportinggame 'which has been slain through ahunting area, presents a number of formidable problems. Principally, thesize,.weight and shape of the slain animal presents the most difficultproblem in transporting the animal. An animal such as a slain deer often[might weigh hundreds of pounds and presents a considerable-difficultyfor one or even two men to transport over agreat distance andparticularly through rugged terrain. In the'fpast, it has been thecommon practice to drag the slain animalout of the hunting area. Suchpractice depending on the numberof men dragging the animal and thephysical condition of the men, might become a physical impossibilityand.further 'could result in physical injury to those dragging theanimal.

It furtherhas been common practice to drag the animal out of the huntingarea with the .animal fully exposed. This practice has been found to behighly undesirable, 'in that it causes damage to the head of the deer,which the hunter may want to preserve for mounting, and also to thehldQ'WhiCh the hunter may want to preserve for tanning. The greatesthazard, however, in transporting a slain-animal out ofa hunting areafully exposed, is the possibility of beingfiredupon by other hunters. Itis not uncommon for hunters to fire indiscriminately at the firstglimpse of an animal, which ofter'iresults in firing at a slain animalwhichis being transportedoutof a hunting area. Such indiscriminatefiring often has resultedin the shooting of hunters transporting slainanimals.

It thus hasbeen found to be highly desirable to provide a de\ ice fortransporting slain animals outof a hunting area, which will facilitatethe removal of theanimal in an intact and undamaged condition, and whichwill eliminate the hazard of being fired upon by other hunters whiletransporting a slain animal through hupting area.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providea transporting device. 7 I

Another object of the present invention is to. provide a novel gametransportingdevice. a I

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel devicefor transporting a slain animal-through a hunting area. i s

Another object of the present invention isto provide an improved devicefor transporting a slain animal through a hunting area having a ruggedterrain.

A further object of the present inveritionis to provide a novel devicefor transporting a slain animal through a hunting area, which requiresminimum physical'effo'rt. v

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved device for transporting a" slain animal through a hunting area,which greatly diminishes the probability of being fired upon by otherhunters in the area. I

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a noveldevice for transporting a slain animal through a hunting area having arugged terrain, wherein damage to the head and hide of the animal isprevented- Another object of the present invention is to provide a'noveldevice for transporting an animal, which collapsible to acompact sizefor carrying when not in use.

' 2 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention inthe open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1,shown in the closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2, illustrating the use of the embodiment.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to a gametransportingdevice generally including a flexible enclosure comprising a panelfolded to provide a pair of overlying panel sections having'coextensiveedges, interlocking elements'pro- 'vided along the coextensivepanelsection edges, andslide of the invention. The embodiment generallyincludes a sub stantially rectangular panel 10, a pair of hand straps 11and 12, and a pair of shoulder straps l3 and 14. The panel 10 consistsof a durable material having a s'mooth surface, such as nylon, and isadapted to be folded about a center fold line 15 to provide a pair ofoverlying panel sections 16 and 17 having transverse coextensive frontedges 18 and 19, longitudinal coextensive side edges 20 and 21, andtransverse coextensive rear edges 22 and 23. The panel edges areprovided with interlocking elements 24 which may be secured togetheralong the coextensive edges of the overlying panel sections 16 and 17,to provide an enclosure for a slain animal. The interlocking elements 24are provided with slide fasteners 25 and 26 which permit the enclosureto be opened or closed at the opposite ends thereof. 7 I

The hand straps 11 and 12 are formed from a material having highstrength properties, such as nylon, and-are secured to the front ends ofthe panel sections 16 and 17. The hand straps further are provided-withtubular handles 27 and 28 which facilitate grasping the hand straps whenthe enclosure is being dragged, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The shoulderstrap 13 includes a lower section 29 fastened to an upper section 30 bymeans of a clamp 40. The strap section 29 is secured to the panelsection 17 adjacent the secured endsof the hand strap 11, and the upperstrap section 39 is provided with a loop portion 41 which is adaptedto'be worn on'the shoulder of the user, as illustrated in FIG. 3.Similarly, the shoulder strap 14 includes a lower section 42 fastened toan upper section 43 by means of a clamp 44. The lower end of the strapsection'42 is material similar to the panel sections l6-and 17. The handA further object of the present invention is to provide a agame-transporting device whichis simple in construction,

straps 11 and 12, shoulder straps l3 and 14,'and hand straps 46 and 47preferably are securely stitched to the panel sections 16 and 17.

' In the use of the embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, intransporting a slain animal through a hunting area having ruggedterrain, the enclosure consisting of the panel sections 16 and 17 isopened and laid on the ground adjacent the slain animal. The animal isthen lifted and placed on the open panel sections 16 and 17 The panelsections are then folded over the animal and the ends of the panelsections are fastened together with the slide fasteners 25 and 26. Inthe event the animal is too large for the enclosure, the front or rearend of the enclosure is left open to permit a portion of the animal toproject out of the enclosure. With the animal positioned within theenclosure, the user places the shoulder straps l3 and 14 on hisshoulders and grasps the hand straps 11 and 12 by the handles 27 and 28,as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the event the shoulder straps 13 and 14 arenot of proper or comfortable length, their lengths may be adjusted bymeans of the adjusting clamps 40 and 44. Under such conditions, thehunter is in a position to drag the slain animal in the enclosure withminimum effort. As illustrated in F IG. 3, the embodiment permits theuser to use his shoulders and arms to drag the slain animal. If anotherhunter is available, he may assist in transporting the slain animal bythe use of the hand straps 46 and 47, provided at the rear end of theenclosure.

' The enclosure of the slain animal and the durable smooth surface ofthepanel forming the enclosure facilitates the dragging of v the slainanimal and prevents any part of the animal from snagging on the terrainas it is being dragged. It is preferred that ,the entire embodiment beof a bright orange color, so that it would be easily visible to otherhunters in the area. It will be appreciated that the entire orsubstantial enclosing of the slain animal and the bright orange color ofthe panel l0 forming theenclosure, will greatly diminish, if noteliminate, the hazard of other hunters in the area firing in thedirection of the hunter attempting to transport the slain animal out ofthe hunting area.

When the embodiment is not in use in transporting a slain animal, it maybe folded into a compact size which easily may be carried by the hunter.It further is contemplated that the embodiment when not in use fortransporting an animal, may be utilized for other purposes, such as abody protector or a ground cover to sit on.

lclaim:

I. A game-transporting device comprising a flexible enclosure adapted toreceive an animal to be transported, said enclosure having an elongatedopening about a portion of a periphery thereof, means for adjusting thesize of said opening to permit insertion of said animal and toaccommodate projecting portions thereof, said enclosure consisting of adurable material having a smooth outer surface capable of withstandingsnagging when the enclosure is dragged over uneven terrain, and a pairof manual towing means secured to said enclosure means at one endthereof and each on opposite side of said means for adjusting the sizeof said elongated opening for dragging said enclosure means containingsaid animal along the ground.

2. A game-transporting device according to claim I, wherein said manualtowing means comprise a pair. of hand straps.

3. A game-transporting device according to claim I, wherein said manualtowing means comprise a pair of shoulder straps.

4. A game-transporting device. according to claim I, wherein said manualtowing means comprise a pair of hand straps and a pair of shoulderstraps.

'5. A game transporting device according to claim I, wherein saidflexible enclosure comprises a panel folded to provide a pair ofoverlying panel sections having coextensive edges defining said opening,and said'adjus ting means comprising interlocking elements providedalong said coextensive panel section edges, and a pair of slidefasteners operativcly connected to said interlocking elements.

6. A game-transporting device according to claim 5, wherein said manualtowing means comprise a pair of hand straps.

7. A game-transporting device according to claim 5, wherein said manualtowing means comprise a pair of shoulder straps.

8. A game-transporting device according to claim 7, wherein the lengthsof said shoulder straps are adjustable.

9. A game-transporting device according to claim 5, wherein said manualtowing means comprise a pair of hand straps and a pair of shoulderstraps.

10. A game-transporting device according to claim 9, wherein said handand shoulder straps are secured to one end of said overlying panelsections, and including a third pair of straps secured to the oppositeend of said overlying panel sections for lifting said opposite end.

